This is the third official update patch for the English version of the game since its release. Update patch version 1.04 includes all the upgrades in versions 1.02 and 1.03 and can be installed either directly on the original version of the game or on top of update patches versions 1.02 and 1.03.
To install the patch, launch EL104ENG.exe file and follow on-screen instructions.
By default the patch is installed into C:/Program Files/Fishtank Interactive/Etherlords folder.
After installation, you can launch the game by the usual methods, either by using your computer's Start menu or by double-clicking on Etherlords.exe file in the game's folder.
2. PROBLEMS FIXED BY UPDATE PATCH VERSION 1.04
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Update 1.04 fixes the following problems identified after the release of update patch version 1.03:
Change of spells and artefacts balance
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- made significant changes to artifacts' prices
- made changes to several spells
- made changes to several specializations, in particular changed probabilities of specializations occuring
- the cost of several spells in terms of resources is increased
- the cost of the highest level of abilities' development in terms of resources is increased
Specific detailed information on changes are shown in tables included in Balance changes.rtf file which is placed in the game's root folder after update patch installation. All changes are shown in blue font.
Increased protection from cheating
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- eliminated the chance to see your opponent's "hand" before dueling.
Introduced duel log
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- the log includes the player's deck and all messages displayed on the screen in tactical mode, such as spell casting, artifact usage, specialization activation, and creatures using their abilities.
At the beginning of each player's turn the following information on each hero is put into the log: current value of life, amount of ether channels, quantity of spells in hand (and a list of spells for your hero), quantity of creatures on the field, a list of creatures on the field with attack/defense parameters, quantity of creatures in graveyard.
C++ Runtime error at the beginning of the game
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- fixed the bug causing game to "hang" with "C++ Runtime error" message on some computers at the beginning of the game during a mission map loading.
Gameplay errors
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- fixed the bug causing game to "hang" during combat when one of the participating heroes has the ½Adhesive╗ specialization.
- fixed the bug with using ½Adhesive╗ specialization: when this specialization took effect, a player did not have to expend any ether to dispel the enchantment.
- fixed the bug with using ½Halos' Twins╗ and ½Velos' Twins╗ specializations: the summoning creature spell was cancelled if the specialization took effect while the hero had 9 creatures on the field.
- fixed the bug with the missing message about the ½Rebirth╗ specialization when it took effect.
- fixed the bug causing ½Spiritual Web╗ enchantment to take effect after de-incarnation of a creature.
- fixed the bug causing a game crash after using the ½<╗ or ½>╗ characters for a saved game name.
- ½Tap Life╗ spell and ½Lifetap╗ creature ability now do not give the hero using them more life than the enemy hero had.
- if you try to delete a saved game, a warning message now appears on the screen.
- fixed the bug causing ½Data Attraction╗ spell to take effect just after it's cast.
Interface errors and additions
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- if you try to delete a set of spells (spell book), a warning message now appears on the screen.
- filters that control choosing a spell book now work differently; when a filter is on, only spell books of the filter's resource level are shown
- spell books, compiled before the patch 1.04 release, and now not matching their resource level (specified earlier) due to the increase of artefacts' price are distinguished with color in the list
- fixed the bug casuing incoorect save of the duel log option's state
3. PROBLEMS FIXED WITH THE EARLIER UPDATES
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Update version 1.03 fixes the following problems identified after update version
1.02 was released:
Increased protection from cheating
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- improved process for checking integrity and correctness of the enemy's Spell
Book in duel mode.
System errors
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- fixed the bug which caused the game to crash occasionally after losing a
combat.
Gameplay errors
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- fixed the bug with "Alpha Strike" spell action.
- fixed the bug which prevented the player from using Pteros' ability to break
enchantments.
- fixed the bug with using Chaots' "Stones' Wrath" and Kinets' "Winds' Wrath"
specializations, causing the specializations to work only on rare occasions.
- fixed the bug which allowed a 3rd level mine to transform into a 1st level one.
- fixed the bug with "Change of Command" spell action.
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Update version 1.02 fixes the following problems identified in the release
version of the game:
Windows XP problems
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- fixed the bug which frequently caused a game freeze after end of duel.
- fixed the bug which occasionally caused a game freeze or crash when exiting to
Windows.
C++ Runtime error at the beginning of the game
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During installation, a program component responsible for correct processing of
certain types of files used by the game will be installed on your system. It's a
standard component which normally comes with all MS Internet Explorer versions
newer than 4.0.
Systems using MS Internet Explorer versions 4.0 or lower may have been lacking
this specific component, causing the game to fail with an error. Installing this
patch addresses this problem.
Launching the game in Windows 2000
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- Fixed the bug which caused an error when trying to launch the game after
logging on under different user accounts in Windows 2000.
If the game has been installed by the user while logged on with one user
account, and then launched while logged on under a different one, the game would
usually fail with a C++ runtime error. Patch 1.02 fixes this problem. After
installing this update, we recommend launching the game immediately under the
same user account. From that point forward, you'll be able to launch the game
successfully after logging on under any user account.
Other system errors
-----------------------
- fixed the bug which prevented the game from running if there was no drive C:
in the system
- fixed the bug which caused frequent connection loss when playing in duel mode
via the Internet
- fixed the bug which caused a failure to identify 3D hardware accelerator in
certain systems
Gameplay errors
----------------
Update version 1.02 fixes a number of gameplay errors.
The most serious of those are:
- fixed the bug causing the game to crash after using global spell "Warrior of
the Realm"
- fixed several bugs connected with using Ethereal forts
- fixed the bug forcing two player's heroes to enter combat in case one of them
was in a fort
- fixed several global spells (in particular, spells "Hypnotism", "Lighting
wrath", "Gifts of the Forest", "Channel Warp", "Regeneration" now work
correctly)
- fixed the bug which impeded heroes exchanging found global spells
- in consecutive duel rounds, spells are now issued randomly
- amended victory conditions in a number of missions
- fixed the bug causing a game crash after inflicting very large amount of
damage to enemy castle
- fixed the bug connected with simultaneous use of a structure (e.g. Academy or
Dungeon) by several heroes
- fixed the bug in the 4th mission of the "Flying Leaf" campaign, which
prevented completion of the mission after killing 9 Aviaks, in case there was
another Aviak in the dungeons. When saved games are loaded with the completed
mission condition, the mission will finish successfully.
- fixed specializations "Gibberlings' Restlessness" and "Lamias' Thievery"
- fixed the bug preventing use of certain spells in hand after switching to
artifacts
- fixed the bug which occasionally caused a shift of runes' value from the spell
icon to an empty screen
- fixed the bug causing a change of creatures' parameters in case the AI-
controlled opponent had the "Delusion" spell
Additional improvements achieved by installing the patch
